tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817911217098974229.post7382913730396044097..comments2023-11-05T04:09:26.194-05:00Comments on e g r e g o r e s: Southern Poverty Law Center: There They Go Again (On the SPLC's Nazi-Pagan Calumnies)Apuleius Platonicushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11761230673724504084noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817911217098974229.post-13077872982027151712011-06-23T18:28:55.204-04:002011-06-23T18:28:55.204-04:00How is that persons like this are ever taken serio...How is that persons like this are ever taken seriously? Even in our own circles we do not listen to fluff bunnies. As educated, knowledgeable people- which is the group that seems most attracted to this garbage - as a majority we are to balance different ideals and walk around carrying our many grains of salt. How is it that others can believe so blindly?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04190665069201193144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817911217098974229.post-49259172851080919862011-06-17T13:42:50.565-04:002011-06-17T13:42:50.565-04:00Thanks for your comment Iaras!
You have hit on a ...Thanks for your comment Iaras!<br /><br />You have hit on a very important aspect of this issue, and one that is easy to overlook. <br /><br />The very "hilarious" nature of the Nazi-Pagan theory is what makes it such a clear example of the "Big Lie" phenomenon. <br /><br />Central to the way in which "Big Lies" work is that the claim being made has to be so ridiculous (or "hilarious") that it convinces people to give credence to the idea! <br /><br />Here is how Hitler himself explained it in Mein Kampf: "In the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying."Apuleius Platonicushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11761230673724504084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817911217098974229.post-75695479383510278152011-06-17T13:28:55.930-04:002011-06-17T13:28:55.930-04:00I find this hilarious for a few (what I believe to...I find this hilarious for a few (what I believe to be) very good reasons.<br /><br />1. as you mentioned there has always been only one religion associated with Nazis and the KKK and white supremacists in general and that would be Christianity<br /><br />2. Pagans in general are a widely open minded accepting religion. Which is why most if not all of us stand up for minority rights including LGBT rights etc. (can you see a neo-nazi doing this?)<br /><br />3. Potok said the kind of person who is drawn to Paganism is "a white man who is looking for justification for extreme violence, who is looking for an ideology which explains why he should be the boss." Obviously he has not met very many Pagans….we are not violent…we are the opposite of violent we don’t want to harm anything and well…just this dude is nuts…end of story. He obviously has no idea of what Pagans actually stand for and believe in. <br /><br /><br /><br />Also as for the above comment Paganism may attract some alienated young people, however most of the Pagans I know are well beyond the stage you speak of. Also even though we have bad experiences with Christians singling us out to poke fun at, we do try to maintain positive attitudes and open minds to all people and all religions. It is hard at times and I will say we are not perfect at all, but we do try most of us.IarasChamberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05221040984711480992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817911217098974229.post-5235892990931504732011-06-17T13:19:37.047-04:002011-06-17T13:19:37.047-04:00Thanks for the comment, KatyDid!
Yes, there is lo...Thanks for the comment, KatyDid!<br /><br />Yes, there is lots of great Pagan Metal in Europe. I have two dear friends who are obsessed with it. I love the ideas and the images and the lyrics, but I am not really a fan of the music itself. I'm too much of an old-hippie Grateful-Dead type.<br /><br />I truly believe that there is less of a connection between Nazism and Paganism than there is between Nazism and vegetarianism, or between Nazism and dog-lovers. (Hitler was both a vegetarian and a dog-lover, and I also happen to be both as well, although I am not a very good vegetarian ....)Apuleius Platonicushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11761230673724504084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817911217098974229.post-86459179619467199662011-06-17T13:00:53.088-04:002011-06-17T13:00:53.088-04:00I think there IS a vague connection between pagani...I think there IS a vague connection between paganism and Nazism, especially in northern Europe. <br /><br />But it's vague and almost coincidental.<br /><br />I've been reading about the black metal movement in Scandinavia, and all of the journalists who write on the subject want to try to DEFINE the connection between right wing extremists and pagans.<br /><br />As far as I can tell, there are two connections: <br /><br />1) Both movements often attract alienated young people, who sometimes move from one movement to another, creating some overlap; and<br /><br />2) In Europe, pagans often cast Christianity and other "semitic" religions as impreialists and invaders of their traditional culture, which can lead to a nationalism and racial conscousness of sorts. <br /><br />Nevertheless, it looks to me - as your research here shows - that attempts to make a solid connection invariably fail. <br /><br />Fantastic blog entry as always!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16323871207793126503noreply@blogger.com